KI Media: “Cambodia approves rubber plantation—in national park” plus 23 more |
- Cambodia approves rubber plantation—in national park
- A corruption report at the Ministry of Cult and Religion
- Corruption report at the Ministry of Cult and Religion led by Min Khin
- [Abishit's] Govt isolated as PAD, opposition find common cause
- Speak Truth To Power (Courage without Borders) Series on KI Media
- Xen-Hun Ak-pkik-vatt - "Xen-Hun Development": A Poem in Khmer by Khlem Chan
- Khmer Politics 101 [in the Banana Kingdoom]
- Answering the Call to work with Dying Prisoners in Cambodia
- Japan tsunami survivor Hiromitsu Shinkawa found 10 miles out at sea
- "Chun Chhloeung Sangkum" a Poem in Khmer by Anonymous Poet
- "Koh Tral Remains Ours in Our Minds" a Poem in English by Kho Tararith
- "Tumnuonh Koh Tral" a Poem in Khmer by Achar Touch
- "Who Killed Chea Vichea?" screening banned for the 3rd time
- Boeung Kak Residents fight on to keep land as deadline approaches
- Sneh Meas-Phkay Pram (Love those 5 golden stars!) - Poem in Khmer by Khlem Chan
- Yuon are no better than Khmer, but our leaders are dumb - Opinion by Uon Sim
- Tony Bourdain Gets 'Happy' in Cambodia
- Let's use video to reinvent education
- Celebrating Dignity, Rights, Contribution of Women
- Celebrating Dignity, Rights, Contribution of Women
- ; ) TGFSW (thank goodness for SENSIBLE women)
- My Rights, My Responsibility (Constitution) Series
- Celebrating Dignity, Rights, Contribution of Women
- My Rights, My Responsibility (ICCPR) Series
| Cambodia approves rubber plantation—in national park Posted: 13 Mar 2011 02:06 PM PDT
Jeremy Hance mongabay.com The Cambodian Prime Minister, Hun Sen, has approved a 9,000 hectare (22,200 acre) rubber plantation in Virachey National Park despite its status as a protected area, reports the Phnom Penh Post. The park is also listed as an ASEAN Heritage Park. Spanning 332,500 hectares in Ratanakkiri province, Virachey National Park, is Cambodia's largest. The concession to clearcut the forest and establish a rubber plantation was awarded to Srun Sovannaphoum Investment Co Ltd. "It is good because that area is uninhabited, so when the company comes to invest they will also construct a road," Ratanakkiri provincial governor Pav Hamphan told the Phnom Penh Post. Villagers in another region of Cambodia are protesting the loss of their forest, known as Prey Lang, to rubber plantations. "Cutting some part of Virachey National Park may not affect villagers, but it seriously affects the forest and this province will lose even more forest land," Pen Bonnar, coordinator for local rights group Adhoc, told the Phnom Penh Post The World Bank has invested $5 million into managing Virachey National Park, which has suffered from illegal logging. The rubber plantation concession is not the first time Cambodia has handed parts of the park over to private industry. In 2007 the government granted Australian gold-mining company, Indochine Mining, rights to exploratory mining in half the park. The wildlife of Virachey National Park have been little studied, but a Rapid Assessment Survey (RAP) in 2007 found evidence of healthy populations of dholes—listed as Endangered by the IUCN Red List—inhabiting the park, in addition to gaurs, yellow-cheeked gibbons, stump-tailed macaques, Asiatic black bears, Malayan sun bears, and Asian small-clawed otters. The short survey also found a number of species that may be unknown to science.  | ||
| A corruption report at the Ministry of Cult and Religion Posted: 13 Mar 2011 01:58 PM PDT
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| Corruption report at the Ministry of Cult and Religion led by Min Khin Posted: 13 Mar 2011 01:47 PM PDT | ||
| [Abishit's] Govt isolated as PAD, opposition find common cause Posted: 13 Mar 2011 01:33 PM PDT 14/03/2011 Veera Prateepchaikul Bangkok Post Even before the censure debate against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his nine cabinet members is due to start tomorrow, the prime minister has already been subjected to harsh criticism by leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy, his former ally. The PAD makes nightly addresses to its supporters from their protest site on Makkhawan Rangsan bridge on Ratchadamnoen Avenue _ and as the election draws closer, the attacks are picking up steam. In an address last Tuesday night, the PAD leaders discussed two issues championed by opposition party Puea Thai as it seeks to make headway against the government _ Mr Abhisit's dual nationality, and the government's attempts to help tobacco giant Philip Morris Thailand in an alleged tax evasion case. These matters are likely to be raised during the no-confidence debate. PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul accused the prime minister of being a traitor for "selling out" territory to Cambodia; and cheating the country by letting the US cigarette manufacturer off the tax hook. PAD spokesman Praphan Koonmee was even harsher in his criticism. He branded Mr Abhisit as the worst prime minister Thailand has ever had. Thailand lost about 68 billion baht in potential revenue from taxes on Marlboro and L&M cigarettes, imported by Philip Morris Thailand, from 2003 to 2009, he said. Mr Praphan accused the prime minister and his close aide, Kiat Sitthi-amorn, the Thai trade representative, of improperly helping the company. He claimed the prime minister had instructed the PM's Office to invite representatives of the Department of Special Investigation, Office of the Attorney-General, Revenue and Customs departments for a meeting to discuss the case, despite the fact that a probe team led by then DSI chief Thawee Sodsong had decided to take the matter to court. The investigation team was set up under the Thaksin government. After Mr Abhisit intervened, the public prosecution decided to drop the case, though all parties deny that anything improper occurred. Puea Thai chief MP Chalerm Yubamrung, who exposed the Philip Morris case, said last week that the repercussions could deliver a knockout blow to the government. It is not yet known whether he will take up this matter for debate. Apparently disappointed that he was not picked to lead the censure debate _ the job fell to list MP Mingkwan Saengsuwan instead _ he said he would fill in the gap left by some speakers, but still leave Mr Mingkwan to run the show. However, Mr Chalerm will miss a golden chance to show his worth _ and also to prove to his boss that he is a more fearsome adversary in parliament than Mr Mingkwan _ if he does not deliver the knockout punch himself. It would be unthinkable a year ago that the PAD, on one side, and Puea Thai and its red shirt allies, the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, on the other, could end up speaking the same language, and sharing the same common enemy _ the Democrat-led government. The PAD's discontent with the Democrats can be traced back to the time when the Democrats and its junior partners entered power after the last coup. The PAD, which helped set the scene for the coup with its protests against the past government, was left out in the cold. PAD leaders have always held the view that the Democrats owe them a favour for their pivotal role in the overthrow of the Thaksin Shinawatra regime. They are still waiting for them to return it. The border conflict with Cambodia over the disputed area around Preah Vihear temple put the PAD's relationship with the government under further pressure. The PAD has demanded the army use force to push out Cambodian troops and civilians from the disputed areas and that Thailand withdraw from Unesco's World Heritage Committee. What little is left of the strained relations between the two unravelled when Prime Minister Abhisit refused to intervene to help PAD key member, Veera Somkhwamkid, after he was arrested with a group of Thais, including Democrat MP Panich Vikitsreth, on the border last December. The PAD has always held Mr Abhisit responsible for Mr Veera's plight because he was the one who approved Mr Panich's inspection trip to the border, in which he was accompanied by Mr Veera. The prime minister also admitted that the group had encroached on Cambodian soil. Now that the PAD, Puea Thai and UDD share the same common enemy, is it possible that they could forge a partnership, along the lines of that old saying, "The enemy of my enemy is my ally"? The red and yellow shirts are such implacable foes that they are unlikely ever to want to sit around the table and talk. Yet this strange turn of events, and now an election coming up... Nothing is permanent, Buddhist teaching tells us _ and nothing is too bizarre in the world of Thai politics that such an unlikely alliance could ever be ruled out. ---------------- Veera Prateepchaikul is a former editor, Bangkok Post.  | ||
| Speak Truth To Power (Courage without Borders) Series on KI Media Posted: 13 Mar 2011 01:26 PM PDT | ||
| Xen-Hun Ak-pkik-vatt - "Xen-Hun Development": A Poem in Khmer by Khlem Chan Posted: 13 Mar 2011 01:16 PM PDT   | ||
| Khmer Politics 101 [in the Banana Kingdoom] Posted: 13 Mar 2011 01:14 PM PDT  By KH A father of a little boy is a big share holder of the Shukaku Inc and also a top general manager of the same company; he administers the development of Boeung Kak area. One day the little boy goes to his dad and asks, "What is politics?" Dad says, "Well son, let me try to explain it this way: I'm the breadwinner of the family, so let's call me Capitalist. Your Mom, she's the administrator of the money, so we'll call her the Government. We are here to take care of your needs, so we'll call you the People. The nanny, we'll consider her the Working Class. And your baby brother, we'll call him the Future. Now, think about that and see if that makes sense," So the little boy goes off to bed thinking about what dad had said. Later that night, he hears his baby brother crying, so he gets up to check on him. He finds that the baby has severely soiled his diaper. So the little boy goes to his parents' room and finds his mother sound asleep. Not wanting to wake her, he goes to the nanny's room. Finding the door locked, he peeks in the keyhole and sees his father in bed making love with the nanny. He gives up and goes back to bed. The next morning, the little boy says to his father, "Dad, I think I understand the concept of politics now." The father says, "Good son, tell me in your own words what you think politics is all about." The little boy replies, "Well, while the Capitalist is screwing the Working Class, the Government is sound asleep, the People are being ignored and the Future is in deep poo."  | ||
| Answering the Call to work with Dying Prisoners in Cambodia Posted: 13 Mar 2011 01:04 PM PDT Answering the Call Lisa Cescon left a high-level position with a top entertainment company in London to work with dying prisoners in Cambodia. PFI.org  As a young child, Lisa Cescon hated the inequity she saw around her. "You're lucky if you are someone who has the ability to succeed in life, and you're just jolly unlucky if you don't" she reflected. But Ms. Cescon was blessed with the ability to succeed, and she eventually became a top executive at Warner Brothers in London, England.Despite being a committed volunteer all her life, her desire to help those less fortunate deepened. At the age of 35, she made the decision give up her successful career to go to Cambodia. Shortly after arriving in Phnom Penh, she and her friend Nicola received the call to work with prisoners. They were earnestly praying that God would use them in some direct way, when they were interrupted by a phone call from a local woman they had recently met. She asked if they would be willing to conduct weekly prison visits. "That was God," Ms. Cescon recalled. "I am a real cynic - but I know that was God. We had both worked in prisons before." And thus began Lisa Cescon's ministry to dying prisoners in Cambodia. In a country wrought with corruption, poverty and the after effects of the Pol Pot genocide, prisoners in Cambodia face dire conditions. A lack of food and water lead to the rampant spread of disease, including tuberculosis, AIDS and Hepatitis C. When they become severely ill, the prisoners are moved to a decrepit wing of a military hospital, but without access to medicine most die a slow and painful death. Lisa and other volunteers visit these prisoners regularly, teaching them songs in their native Khmer, including the Lord's Prayer and Psalm 121. "They will memorise the songs, and during the week, when they're frightened, they'll remember the words," she explains. The songs have a powerful affect on the prisoners. Lisa describes one emaciated AIDS victim who was shaking with intense pain and fear. "We sang to him and God's presence came upon him and he visibly changed before our eyes. He relaxed and had peace." Ms. Cescon shared some of her experiences at the PFI Convocation in Toronto, referring to her time with these frail prisoners as a "real privilege." She has been working with PF Cambodia to improve conditions in the deteriorated prison wing of Monivong Hospital, and recently PFI provided a grant to be used for renovation of the currently unusable toilet and sewage system.  | ||
| Japan tsunami survivor Hiromitsu Shinkawa found 10 miles out at sea Posted: 13 Mar 2011 12:59 PM PDT
Rescuers spot 60-year-old from Fukushima prefecture clinging to the roof of his home two days after the tsunami struck Sunday 13 March 2011 Justin McCurry in Tokyo guardian.co.uk A 60-year-old man has been found on the roof of his floating house nearly 10 miles out at sea, two days after the tsunami that devastated the north-east coast of Japan. Hiromitsu Shinkawa must have resigned himself to his fate when he was swept away by the retreating tsunami that roared ashore in his home town of Minami Soma in Fukushima prefecture. As the wave approached, Shinkawa took the fateful decision to return home to collect belongings. Minutes later he was out at sea clinging to a piece of the roof from his own home. Incredibly, he was spotted by a maritime self-defence force destroyer taking part in the rescue effort as he clung to the wreckage with one hand and waved a self-made red flag with the other. He had been at sea for two days. Reports said that on being handed a drink aboard the rescue boat, Shinkawa gulped it down and immediately burst into tears. His wife, with whom he had returned home as the tsunami approached, is still missing. He was quoted as saying: "No helicopters or boats that came nearby noticed me. I thought that day was going to be the last day of my life." Officials said Shinkawa was in good condition after being taken to hospital by helicopter. "I ran away after I heard a tsunami was coming," he told Jiji Press. "But I turned back to fetch something from home and was swept away. I was rescued while hanging on to the roof of my house." The self-defence forces said the good weather and calm waters had allowed Shinkawa to stay alive during his 48-hour drift.  | ||
| "Chun Chhloeung Sangkum" a Poem in Khmer by Anonymous Poet Posted: 13 Mar 2011 10:20 AM PDT   | ||
| "Koh Tral Remains Ours in Our Minds" a Poem in English by Kho Tararith Posted: 13 Mar 2011 08:44 AM PDT   | ||
| "Tumnuonh Koh Tral" a Poem in Khmer by Achar Touch Posted: 13 Mar 2011 08:35 AM PDT   | ||
| "Who Killed Chea Vichea?" screening banned for the 3rd time Posted: 12 Mar 2011 10:06 PM PST http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SP_3dQLjXrI&feature=player_embedded  | ||
| Boeung Kak Residents fight on to keep land as deadline approaches Posted: 12 Mar 2011 09:59 PM PST http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoYjKjwoCZ4&feature=player_embedded  | ||
| Sneh Meas-Phkay Pram (Love those 5 golden stars!) - Poem in Khmer by Khlem Chan Posted: 12 Mar 2011 09:50 PM PST   | ||
| Yuon are no better than Khmer, but our leaders are dumb - Opinion by Uon Sim Posted: 12 Mar 2011 09:44 PM PST | ||
| Tony Bourdain Gets 'Happy' in Cambodia Posted: 12 Mar 2011 09:31 PM PST
CelebStoner.com No Reservations host Anthony Bourdain recently visited Cambodia, where he sampled the country's very special fast food: "Happy Pizza." Sprinkled with a "powerful herbal supplement, it's the pizza that makes you insane in the membrane," Bourdain reports. Though he scarfs down the whole pie, Bourdain remains typically coy about his intake of controlled substances. "Cures glaucoma, I hear," the traveling gourmand quips. "The crust could be a little crispier. But really, what's more important - crispy crust or a crispy diner?" Watch new episodes of No Reservations on the Travel Channel at 9 pm EST on Mondays.  | ||
| Let's use video to reinvent education Posted: 12 Mar 2011 09:24 PM PST By Khmer Democrat, Phnom Penh Expanding our Mind Series We at KI Media understand the power of the internet not only for the strengthening of democracy and freedom but for EDUCATION. Every teacher, educator, civil society leader, government official who genuinely cares for the welfare of Cambodia, every donor SHOULD WATCH THIS VIDEO. Every Khmer individual who would like to receive FREE, QUALITY EDUCATION should watch this. If it requires that you go learn English first, then do everything to learn English and then come back to watch these videos. THIS IS THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION, GLOBAL EDUCATION. What a brilliant man, what a great personality! Interview with Bill Gates toward the end. Salman Khan talks about how and why he created the remarkable Khan Academy, a carefully structured series of educational videos offering complete curricula in math and, now, other subjects. He shows the power of interactive exercises, and calls for teachers to consider flipping the traditional classroom script -- give students video lectures to watch at home, and do "homework" in the classroom with the teacher available to help. Why you should listen to him:Salman Khan is the founder and faculty of the Khan Academy (www.khanacademy.org) -- a not-for-profit organization with the mission of providing a free world-class education to anyone, anywhere. It now consists of self-paced software and, with over 1 million unique students per month, the most-used educational video repository on the Internet (over 30 million lessons delivered to-date). All 2000+ video tutorials, covering everything from basic addition to advanced calculus, physics, chemistry and biology, have been made by Salman. Prior to the Khan Academy, Salman was a senior analyst at a hedge fund and had also worked in technology and venture capital. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, an M.Eng and B.S. in electrical engineering and computer science from MIT, and a B.S. in mathematics from MIT.  | ||
| Celebrating Dignity, Rights, Contribution of Women Posted: 12 Mar 2011 09:18 PM PST A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult.
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| Celebrating Dignity, Rights, Contribution of Women Posted: 12 Mar 2011 09:13 PM PST CEDAW signed by Cambodia in 17 Oct. 1980, acceded to on 15 Oct. 1992 The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly, is often described as an international bill of rights for women. Consisting of a preamble and 30 articles, it defines what constitutes discrimination against women and sets up an agenda for national action to end such discrimination. PART I Article 5 States Parties shall take all appropriate measures: (a) To modify the social and cultural patterns of conduct of men and women, with a view to achieving the elimination of prejudices and customary and all other practices which are based on the idea of the inferiority or the superiority of either of the sexes or on stereotyped roles for men and women; (b) To ensure that family education includes a proper understanding of maternity as a social function and the recognition of the common responsibility of men and women in the upbringing and development of their children, it being understood that the interest of the children is the primordial consideration in all cases.  | ||
| ; ) TGFSW (thank goodness for SENSIBLE women) Posted: 12 Mar 2011 09:03 PM PST A sensible woman can never be happy with a fool. - 1st U.S. president George Washington (who refused a 2nd term for the sake of democracy), letter to Eleanor Parke Custis, Jan. 16, 1795  | ||
| My Rights, My Responsibility (Constitution) Series Posted: 12 Mar 2011 08:55 PM PST Constitution of Cambodia (Sept. 1993) CHAPTER VII: THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY Article 78 The legislative term of the National Assembly shall be 5 years and terminates on the day when the new National Assembly convenes. The National Assembly shall not be dissolved before the end of its term except when the Royal government is twice deposed within a period of twelve months. In this case, following a proposal from the Prime Minister and the approval of the Chairman of the National Assembly, the King shall dissolve the National Assembly. The election of a new National Assembly shall be held no later than 60 days from the date of dissolution. During this period, the Royal government shall only be empowered to conduct routine business. In time of war or other special circumstances where an election cannot be held, the National Assembly may extend its term for one year at a time, upon the request of the King. Such an extension shall require at least a two-third vote of the entire National Assembly.  | ||
| Celebrating Dignity, Rights, Contribution of Women Posted: 12 Mar 2011 08:51 PM PST This view that women are somehow inferior to men is not restricted to one religion or belief. Women are prevented from playing a full and equal role in many faiths. Nor, tragically, does its influence stop at the walls of the church, mosque, synagogue or temple. This discrimination, unjustifiably attributed to a Higher Authority, has provided a reason or excuse for the deprivation of women's equal rights across the world for centuries. At its most repugnant, the belief that women must be subjugated to the wishes of men excuses slavery, violence, forced prostitution, genital mutilation and national laws that omit rape as a crime. But it also costs many millions of girls and women control over their own bodies and lives, and continues to deny them fair access to education, health, employment and influence within their own communities.... The truth is that male religious leaders have had—and still have—an option to interpret holy teachings either to exalt or subjugate women. They have, for their own selfish ends, overwhelmingly chosen the latter.
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| My Rights, My Responsibility (ICCPR) Series Posted: 12 Mar 2011 08:45 PM PST International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Ratified, acceded by UN General Assembly in December 1966, entry into force March 1976. Cambodia ratified the ICCPR (thus, a part of Cambodia's body of laws) and is obligated to submit regular reports to the United Nations.
Article 52 1. Irrespective of the notifications made under article 48, paragraph 5, the Secretary-General of the United Nations shall inform all States referred to in paragraph I of the same article of the following particulars: (a) Signatures, ratifications and accessions under article 48; (b) The date of the entry into force of the present Covenant under article 49 and the date of the entry into force of any amendments under article 51.  |
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